British influencer criticised for posing partially naked at Italian cathedral

A British woman has been accused of "obscene acts in a public place" after attempting to take photos on the steps of a cathedral in Italy, covered only by a long, red robe.

The woman, believed to be an influencer, was spotted on the steps of Sant'Andrea Cathedral in Amalfi in Italy, with footage of the incident shared by Positano News and on Facebook.

It has been reported police approached the woman and her photographer and told them to move on, warning her not to share the photos online.

To take photos on the cathedral steps parties need to secure proper permission. This is usually only given for such occasions as baptisms and weddings.

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It is unlikely she would have been granted permission for the photo shoot if she had sought it.

Footage of the incident, which has been shared on Facebook, has prompted swift backlash from locals and others.

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"Undress[ing] badly in front of a cathedral of considerable importance [is] squalid and unacceptable... shame," one commented.

"The scandalous thing is not the fact that she is doing a nude photo shoot, but that she has chosen the facade of a church as the location," another said.

Sant'Andrea Cathedral is of historical and religious significance, adding to the anger. It is located between the mountains and the sea on the Bay of Salerno on Italy's southwest coast and was founded in the ninth century before being rebuilt in the 11th century.

The identity of the British influencer isn't yet known.

For the offence of obscene acts in a public place parties can be fined or receive a prison sentence of three months to three years.